Brig. Gen. Fred Borum presents the Air Medal to Lt. Elsie Ott, the first woman to receive the Air Medal. (US Air Force photo)

75 Years Ago—Jan. 17, 1943: US Naval Base and Naval Air Station, Brisbane, Australia is established.

First intercontinental medical air evacuation and the first time a nurse participates in air evacuation—Lt. Elsie Ott, who had not been trained in air evacuation and had never flown in a plane, cares for patients on a week-long journey from India to Washington DC; she will receive the first Air Medal to be awarded to a woman. (Read more: Medical Air Evacuation in World War II).

Emilie Wesley has devoted her legal career to helping abused women. She’s so close to helping Kaylene Adams and her two daughters escape Kaylene’s abusive husband. So when the news breaks that Kaylene has shot both daughters and was then killed by the police, Emilie is devastated. But she’s convinced Kaylene’s husband is the guilty party.

Reid Billings grieves for his sister, Kaylene, and his nieces, one of whom is in critical care. He also doesn’t believe Kaylene could be guilty, and he enlists Emilie’s help to gain custody of his surviving niece. But to do so, they first have to prove Kaylene’s innocence, despite all evidence to the contrary.

Imperfect Justice by Cara Putman is a riveting legal thriller. As Reid and Emilie race to save a little girl, their mutual grief and self-doubts provide realistic and touching counterpoints. The story illustrates the plight of women trapped in abusive relationships, timely and relevant and sobering. Imperfect Justice is an excellent continuation of the Hidden Justice series, but it easily stands alone. I loved this book!